Training passing motor skills in four simple steps

Players begin in the soccer position. This stance helps players prepare mentally and physically to do the neuromuscular soccer skills training.

Coaching instruction

“Stand with your feet facing forward, knees softly bent, feet just wider than shoulder width, engaged at the core.”

2. Grounded Skill Position

Players hold the skill position with the playing foot touching the ground, making it easier for them to maintain the correct body alignment.

Push pass coaching instruction
"Turn your passing foot, while still on the ground, perpendicular to the planted foot. The heel of the passing foot is about the width of a fist away from the inside of the planting foot. Your knees should remain bent, and the toe of your planted leg should point straight at the passing target."

3. Open skill position

Players maintain skill position from step #2, while holding playing foot in the air. This requires substantial balance and strength. Often, the playing foot in the air will shake as the player struggles to hold the skill position. Wait until they can hold the playing foot still before moving to the next step.

Push pass coaching instruction
“Hold your foot in the air a couple of inches off the ground in the passing position. Keep the planted knee bent and your core crunched as you lift the passing foot. Swing the passing foot up and back straight in front of you, about two inches above the ground. The passing movement should be smooth with the planting knee bent and core crunched”

4. skill

After perfecting the position and movement of the skill without a ball, players are asked to perform the skill with one.

Push pass coaching instruction
"Pass a ball back and forth with your partner. Use two touches, one to trap and one to pass. Use the same form to trap the ball as you have learned to pass it."

Conclusion

Neuromuscular training can be used to teach players how to perform all soccer skills. Although you might think adding neuromuscular training to your practices will be burdensome, once you become familiar with the coaching steps for each skill you will be able to run through them quickly.